Digital Public Library of America

Once exams are over--or as a study break--take a look at the debut of a landmark online project: The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).  Launched April 18, the DPLA ultimately aims to make the holding of American research libraries, archives, and museums available free to everyone in the world on the internet.  Right now, the DPLA has taken the first step by offering a wide array of over 2 million books, documents, photos, media, and works of art that have already been digitilized by the libraries and cultural institutions that own them.

Everything in the Digital Library of America is searchable by keyword, time period, geographic location map, and subject.  The site also includes special exhibitions. With a view to a future "world library" for all, the DPLA is designed to be interoperable with Europeana, Europe's digital culture portal.  A current exhibition of photos and artifacts, "Leaving Europe: A New Life in America," was jointly produced by Europeana and the DPLA.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

An old favorite worth revisiting

When I get frustrated scanning through my Google results for what should be a simple question - like finding a reverse phone directory -  I got to  refdesk.com .  Just be careful - you can spend a lot of time there.   I just spent the last hour looking at my favorite comics, finding how to clean things, finding calculators, medical information and good online games.  Their Just for Fun heading is sure to keep you occupied, or distracted for quite some time.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Recent Federal Gun Control Decision

Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a law that prohibits federally licensed gun dealers from selling handguns to anyone under the age of twenty-one. Read more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Knowledge@Wharton

If you are looking for an interesting online business journal, try Knowledge@Wharton.   Articles provided by Knowledge@Wharton, the online business journal of the Wharton School. Knowledge@Wharton covers research in Finance, Strategic Management, and Marketing,among others.  

Articles are based on research papers, often with links to the original paper.  It includes, academic summaries and abstracts of research papers, book reviews and author interviews, and analysis of current business issues.  There are also discussions between Wharton faculty members and business leaders and reports on conferences and seminars

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

iTunes Turns 10 today

iTunes officially turns ten today!  Believe it or not but iTunes began ten years ago and has pretty much dominated the music world since then.  Not surprisingly, iTunes accounts for almost two-thirds of all music sales around the world.  In commemoration of the ten year anniversary, PC Magazine has compiled two great articles.  The first features a slide show of iTunes decade of milestones, the second provides history, features and a photo gallery of iTunes from the last ten years.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat